Soot blower seal



sooT BLOWER SEAL Jan. 2, 1940. R. H.WAGER SOOT BLOWER SEAL 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 13, 1938 a .tA y d ,M m a e m a w m a W L J w fH1 z ,r I@ a 00 a r 1 2 e f T f 2 .WU ,w i1 d 33V. f d

i C j d L ,d a Qu 0,1 Y a6 2 (2 wr y 5 w 7 v fg 5.?. .wmf .y s w W2 .v(Aw W Patented Jan. `2, 1940 2,185,450 soor BLOWER SEAL Robert HudsonWager, Maplewood, N. J. Application May 13, 1938, Serial N0. 207,852

UNITEDl STATES PATENT OFFICE y;

9 Claims.

The; invention relates to the devices for blowingsoot from boiler tubes,of the general type having ya rotatably or non-rotatably mounted blowerelement passing'thro-ugh an opening in the boiler wall, said blowerelement having jets for Adirecting the soot-blowing air or steam inVvarious directions against the boiler tubes and/ ory other internalparts of the boiler.

`the outer end of the blower element and the `boiler wall to preventsootfrom blowing out of the opening through which said blower elementextends into the boiler furnace.

f While .relatively complicated and expensive seals heretofore devisedfor the above mentioned purpose, have possessed a fair degree ofeniciency with relatively little maintenance trouble,

seals of comparatively simple and inexpensive constructionxhave fallenshort of requirements as to eiciency, trouble-free operation anddurability. yIt has been the object of the present invention, however,to' provide a seal to meet all requirements and at the same time be ofsuch simple and inexpensive construction as to be truly practicable, andactual manufacture, installation anduse have shown that this end hasbeen attained.

Fig:Y 1- of the accompanying drawings isl a vertical longitudinalsectional View partly in elevation showing a` preferred assemblage ofparts forcarrying out the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional View on f ment ring forthespring, sho-wn in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view of the abutment ring on line 8-8of Fig. 7.

' Figs. 9 and 10 are detail sectional views illustrating anti-frictionthrust bearings-which may 4be provided for "the spring.

' .While preferred features of 'constructionhave been shown' andwill bespecically' described,

attention is invited to the possibility of makingv (Cl.285-30) Inumerous variations within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In Fig. 1, a portion of a boiler wall 5 is shown including an outerhollow wall 6 and an inner wall or baiile plate l, there being an airspace 8 between said walls 6 and 1. An angle-metal or channel ring 9 isrigidly included in the rwall 6, said ring having a substantiallycylindrical flange I at its periphery and a second flange Il whichprojects inwardly from the `outer edge of said flange I0. A metalvsleeve I`2 extends between the two walls 6 and l and passes through thering9 in contact with the inner edge of the flange Il, the outer end ofsaid sleeve being extended beyond said flange inthe present' showing.The inner end of the ysleeve I2 is shown as contracted and lwelded at i3to the inner Wall or baiiie plate l, around `an vopening I4 in thelatter.

In the space between the sleeve l2 and lthe I) cylindrical flange Ill ofthe ring 9,' there is a reproof packing I and a retaining ring I6 forsaid packing. A gasket I1 lies against this retaining ring and thethimble I2v is :provided with an integral peripheral Iiiange I8' 'lyingagainst 'said gasket. Bolts f2() passthroughthe parts I8, I1, I6, I5 andil, and`project outwardly beyond the latter. Clamping nuts 2l arethreaded on these bolts in contact with washers I9, thereby holding theparts through which the bolts pass in rigid relationy withtlie sleeveI2.

All of the above may be considered as conventional construction.

The outer ends of the bolts 20 project considerably beyond theprojecting outer end of the sleeve I2 and pass through' relatively largeopenings 22 in a Vertical plate 23 (Figs. l'and 2) which extend acrossthe outer end of-said sleevel2. A gasket 24 is interposed between` theplate 23 and the plate I2, washers 25 extend over 40 the openings 22 atthe outer side of the plate 23, and nuts 26 are threaded on the outerends of the bolts 29 to force plate 23 toward the sleeve I2, therebyfluid-tightly clamping the gasket 24' in place and preventing anyleakage of dust- 4,5 laden gases. Leakage around the exterior of thesleeve I2 is prevented by the packing l5 and the gasket I1, and anypossible leakagey through the bolt holes and under the nuts 2l is'prevented by said gasket Il and the washers I9.

The plate 23 is formed with an opening'Z'l about concentricwiththe-sleeve I2 but` of considerably less diameter than said sleeve. Therotatable or non-rotatable blowerv element `28` extends from the usualblower head or the like 29 55( thro-ugh the opening 2, through thesleeve I 2 and through the opening I4 into the furnace of the boiler,said blower element being inwardly spaced from the edges of saidopenings 2l and I4 and being, therefore, also in inwardly spacedrelation with said sleeve I2.l One of the steam or air discharge jets ofthe blower element 28 is shown at 3!! but I have not illustrated anymeans for rotating said blower element nor means for supplying steam orcompressed air thereto, all of which are well known in the art.

A flexible metal sleeve 3i of circumferentially corrugated nature, isdisposed within the rigid sleeve I2 and surrounds the blower element 23,v

being spaced from both said sleeve I2 and blower element 2t. At itsouter end, the sleeve 3i is welded or otherwise fluid-tightly secured tothe plate 23 around the opening 2, the welding or thelike beingindicated at 32. The inner end of the sleeve @I is similarly welded orotherwise secured at 33 to a circular closure 361 which surrounds theblower element 28, said closure having a cylindrical wall portion 35 inspaced concentric relation with said blower element, and an inwardlyprojecting flange 36 at the edge of said wall toward the opening Ill.Appropriate heat-resisting packing 3l is provided in the channeled seatformed by the closure portions 35 and 3I5V and the contiguous portion ofthe blower element 28, said packing contacting huid-tightly with theperiphery of said blower element. A follower ring 38 is shown contactingwith the packing 3? and the inner end of a coiled compression spring 3&7is shown abutting said follower ringto inwardly press the latter,thereby holding the packing 3l' operatively seated to preventA anyleakage of dust-laden gases into the sleeve 3l. However, as willhereinafter appear, other spring' means may be provided in place ofspringl 3S, as in Figs. 4 and 9, hereinafter described, for example.When spring 39 is-used, its outer end may directly abut a portion of theblower head or'v the like 2S as seen in Fig. 1 or a thrust shoulder maybe provided in any other suitable way, for instance, by means of acollar 4S, secured by a set screw lll to the blower elements 2S, asillustrated in Fig. 3, or in the ways illustrated in Figs. 4, 9 and l0,later described. When the spring directly abuts the blower head l orthelike 29, the latter is preferably provided with a shallow groove t2forming a seat for the outermostconvolution of said spring.

In 4 to 8, a modification is shown. In these views, the elements I2a,23a, 2da, 29a, 25a, 26H, 35%, 32M, 282, and Sla correspond totheelements S2, 23, 2li, 2li, 25, 26,35, 3l, 28 and 3| above described. Theopening Z'la of the abut-` ment plate 23a, however, is provided withnotches 23b inits edge wall, and the inner side of said plate'isprovided with depressed seats 23C circumferentially spaced from saidnotches. An abutment ring 39e is provided for the spring b which seatsthe packing 371, being provided with a rib 396 to surround the outermostcoil of said spring. Ring 39a is provided with radial lugs 39d and saidring is insertable through the opening 21a when said lugs are alinedwith the notches 23h. Then, the ring is turned until the lugs 39d seatin the seats 23, in which they are` held by the pressure of spring Stiliif desired and while its inner end may be associated with the packing37a in the same manner as spring 39 is associatedwith packing 3l, Iprefer to interpose a sleeve 39e between said spring 36h and saidpacking 31a.

In Fig. 9, a ball thrust bearing 4ta is provided,`

against which the packingseat lspring ggm'ay thrust, and apacking-,engaging sleeve 39h is shown abutting the inner end of saidvspring.y This arrangement may be usedinstead of those 1 shown in Figs. land 3 if desired.

In Fig. 10, I have shown another form of thrust bearing which may beused for the pack-v ing-seating spring. In this View, Mib .denotes a jcollar suitably secured on the blower element, de refers to a steelwasheragainst which the spring abuts, and 49d has reference to a bronze1 washer between said collar 46h and Washer v`lll".

"Obviously, the thrust bearings shown in Figs. 9` and 10 would be usedonly when the blower element be rotatable, but such arrangementsas thoseshown in Figs. Vl and 4. also operate advantageously with a rotatableblower element, with` n kthrust Moreover, the seal will remain.'

tight, no matter how much the blower element;

may expand and contract and no ma-tter howl f much said blower elementmay become warped from the heat. Furthermore,` the seal -will give longtrouble-free operation andwill not be af."- fected by any longitudinallungingroitheblower element which may occur `during the performs' anceof a soot-blowing operation. .If the blowera-` element be so warped thatits outer end'pjortion,v

cannot rotate truly, the flexible metalsleeve lwill readily yield andallow the packing tofren'iainlin4 tight sealing contact with said blowerelement;

In short, an effective seal is providedv under all.'

conditions encountered. Y While excellent results have` been obtainedfrom the details shown and described,'and they are therefore preferablyfollowed, attention'isl again invited to the possibilty of makingvaria-` of the invention as tions within the scope claimed.

I claim: ..5' 1. In a soot blower having a blower'element extendingthrough a relatively largeiopening'in said blower element within saidopening',` said flexible metal sleeve being spaced from the walll ofsaid opening and fromv said blowerrelement, aplate having an openingthrough which said blower element passes without contact with-saidplate, the front end of said exiblemetal sleeve being fluid-tightlysecured to said plate around said opening thereof, said' plate`beingrsecured to the boiler walland fluid-tightly closingthe outer endof said wall opening around said flexible metal sleeve, meansfluid-tightly. closing the inner end of said exible sleeve around saidblower element and including a packing, spring means for seating saidpacking, and an abutment ring *50' a boiler wall; a flexible metalsleeve surrounding against which said spring means thrusts, said iabutment ring surrounding said blower, element.` and having peripherallugs abuttingsfthe inner side of said plate, the openingof said platebeingl l,

notched to permit passage of said lugs when said abutment ring issufficiently turned.

2. A structure as specified `in claimV 1;; said inner side of said platebeing vprovided with depressed seats normally'receiving saidy lugs.

3. In a soot blower having ablower element extending through arelatively large opening in a boiler wall; a flexible metal sleeve insaid opening, surrounding and spaced from said blowerv element,andextending toward the interior of the boiler, means for non-rotatablyconnecting the outer end of said flexible metal sleeve with the boilerwall and for fluid-tightly closing said opening around said outer end ofsaid flexible metal sleeve, a circular closure for the inner end of saidflexible metal sleeve constituting a packing seat, a packing surroundingsaid blower element within said sleeve and engaging said seat, andspring means within said sleeve and thrusting against said packing forholding the same operatively seated.

4. In a soot blower having a blower element extending through arelatively large opening in a boiler wall; a flexible metal sleeve insaid opening, surrounding and spaced from said blower element, andextending toward the interior of the boiler, means for non-rotatablyconnecting the outer end of said flexible metal sleeve with the boilerwall and for fluid-tightly closing said opening around said outer end ofsaid flexible metal sleeve, a circular closure for the inner end of saidflexible metal sleeve, said closure having a cylindrical wallsurrounding and spaced from said'blower element and an annular flangeprojecting inwardly from the inner end of said cylindrical wall,providing a circular channeled seat which opens toward the outer end ofsaid flexible metal sleeve, a circular packing in said seat andcontacting with said blower element, and spring means surrounding saidblower element within said flexible metal sleeve and thrusting againstsaid packing to hold the same operatively seated.

5. In a soot blower having a blower element extending through a relativelarge opening in a boiler wall; a flexible metal sleeve in said opening,surrounding and spaced from said blower element, and extending towardthe interior of the boiler, a plate having an opening through which saidblower element passes without contacting said plate, the front end ofsaid flexible metal sleeve being fluid-tightly secured to said platearound said opening thereof, said plate being secured to the boiler walland huid-tightly closing the outer end of said wall opening around saidlflexible metal plate, a circular closure for the inner end of saidflexible metal sleeve and constituting a packing seat, a packingsurrounding said blower element within said sleeve and engaging saidseat, and spring means within said sleeve and thrusting against saidpacking for holding the same operatively seated.

6. In a soot blower having a blower element extending through arelatively large opening in `a wall; means for preventing escape of sootthrough said opening around said blower element, including a flexiblemetal sleeve surrounding and spaced from said blower element and apacking in the inner end of said sleeve, spring means within said exiblesleeve for seating said packing, an abutment ring against which theouter end of said spring means thrusts, said abutment ring surroundingsaid blower element and being spaced therefrom, a fixed abutmentadjacent said abutment ring and also surrounding and spaced from saidblower element, and connecting means between said abutment ring and saidfixed abutment releasable by turning of said ring with respect to saidxed abutment.

7. In a soot blower having a blower element extending through arelatively large opening in a wall; means for preventing escape of sootthrough said opening around said blower element, including a iiexiblemetal sleeve surrounding and spaced from said blower element and apacking in the inner end of said sleeve, spring means within saidiiexible sleeve for seating said packing, an abutment ring against whichthe outer end of said spring meansthrusts, said abutment ringsurrounding said blower element and being spaced therefrom, a xedabutment adjacent said abutment ring and also surrounding and spacedfrom said blower element, and lugs on said abutment ring abuttingportions of said lixed abutmentand releasable therefrom by turning ofsaid abutment ring with respect to said fixed abutment.

8. In a soot blower having a blower element extending through a relativelarge opening in a wall; means for preventing escape of soot throughsaid opening around said blower element including a flexible metalsleeve surrounding and spaced from said blower element and a packing inthe inner end of said sleeve, spring means within said flexible sleevefor seating said packing, an abutment ring against which the outer endof said spring means thrusts, said abutment ring surrounding said blowerelement and being spaced therefrom, a fixed abutment at outer side ofsaid abutment ring and surrounding said blower element, and peripherallugs on said abutment ring lying against the inner side of said fixedabutment, said fixed abutment being spaced sufciently from said blowerelement to allow outward passage of said abutment ring when said lugsare freed from said fixed abutment, the inner edge of the latter havingnotches through which said lugs may pass when said abutment ring is Aturned with respect to said fixed abutment.

9. A structure as specified in claim 8; the inner side of said xedabutment being provided with depressed seats normally receiving saidlugs of said abutment ring.

ROBERT HUDSON WAGER.

